468 SURGICAL APPLIED ANATOMY. [Chap. xxi. 



He also found that the femur was more frequently 

 the seat of variation than the tibia. 



Amputation of the thigh. In a circular 

 amputation of the thigh about its middle the following 

 parts would be divided : the quadriceps, sartorius, 

 gracilis, long and great adductors, and the three 

 hamstring muscles ; the femoral and profunda vessels, 

 the descending branches of the external circumflex 

 artery, the lower perforating vessels, and the long 

 saphenous vein ; the main branches of the anterior 

 crural nerve (middle cutaneous, internal cutaneous, 

 and muscular, together with the long saphenous 

 nerve), the anterior branch of the external cutaneous 

 .nerve, the obturator, and the great and small sciatic 

 nerves. Owing to the unequal manner in which the 

 divided muscles retract, a circular amputation is not 

 well adapted for the thigh. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



THE REGION OP THE KNEE. 



IN this chapter will be considered the articulation 

 of the knee, the soft parts about the joint, the 

 popliteal space, the lower end of the femur, the 

 patella, and the upper ends of the tibia and fibula. 



Surface anatomy. In the front of the knee 

 the patella can be distinctly felt and seen. Its inner 

 border is a little more prominent than the outer. 

 When the limb lies in the extended posture, with the 

 quadriceps relaxed, the patella can be moved to and 

 fro, and appears to be but loosely attached. When 

 the quadriceps is contracted the bone is drawn 

 upwards, and becomes firmly fixed against the femur. 

 In flexion of the joint the patella sinks into the 



